William Shakespeare was considered one of the greatest playwrights the world has ever known. Did events in your childhood lead to this? Did his education play a role in his success? William Shakespeare was a very influential person of the 1600s and 1700s, who also had a great impact on our literary world. Shakespeare's actual birth date is unknown, but records of his baptism on 26 April 1564 lead most historians to believe his actual birth date. it was two or three days before his baptism. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Shakespeare was born to Mary Arden, his mother, the daughter of a wealthy farmer and a descendant of the Ardens of Park Hall, a prominent Catholic family in the area. Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, who became mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon. William was the third of eight children, three of whom died in youth. Not much is known about William's education. Most scholars assume that he attended grammar school at Stratford. However, no document proves this theory, however his knowledge of Latin and classical Greek can prove it. There are no records that reveal how long William may have attended school. But what is certain is that he did not attend university, which is why many question the authorship of his works. At eighteen, William Shakespeare married twenty-six-year-old Anna Hatheway. Being a minor he had to obtain his father's approval, and it was granted. On 27 November 1582, in Temple Grafton church, Anne and William were married. Anna's family rushed the wedding and purchased a marriage license to overcome all the prohibitions in force. Six months after the wedding, the Shakespeares' first daughter, Susanna, was born on 26 May 1583....... middle of paper ......with Shakespeare as a model. Shakespeare greatly changed the world without him even realizing it. He left behind great stories and themes for generations to learn and experience. “All the world is a stage, and all men and women are actors: they have their exits and their entrances; and a man in his time plays many parts, his acts last seven ages.” - William Shakespeare.Works Cited www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/timeline2.html www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/timeline3.html www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/timeline.html www.bardweb.net / man.html The complete idiot's guide to Shakespeare www.shmoop.com/william-shakespeare/timeline.html www.egs.edu/library/william-shakespeare/biography/ www.bbc.co.uk/history/british /history/ tudors/shakespeare_early_01_.shtml www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/history/tudors/shakespeare_later_01_.shtml